Our Journey 2007‐2015
Aquatic Invasive Species
Eurasian Milfoil (EWM)
April 23, 2015
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About Beecher Lake
Name: Beecher Lake Water body Area: 30 ACRES Maximum Depth: 45 feet Bottom: 5% sand, 5% gravel, 0% rock, 90% muck Water body Type: flowage Hydrologic Lake Type: DRAINAGE County: Marinette Region Organizations: Beecher And Upper Lake Inland Protection District
Recreation: One Boat Landing
Fish: Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike
Parks: One Lake Health: Invasive Species ‐ Banded Mystery Snail, Eurasian Water‐Milfoil, Purple Loosestrife Trophic Status: Mesotrophic http://beecherupperlakes.com/
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About Beecher Lake
1938
2012
channel
channel
dam
dam
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Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary 2007 and 2008
2007
•Eurasian Milfoil was discovered
•Last year of weed harvesting 2008
•Aquatic Plant Management Plan Grant •Last Gypsy Moth Treatment
•WDNR recommended chemical treatment •100% funded by Lake District 4
Eurasian Milfoil Background
 Reproduces through rhizomes, seeds and stem fragments which can spread easily and makes it hard to get rid of
 Grows rapidly
 Present in more than 400 Wisconsin Lakes
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Eurasian Milfoil Background
 Dense growth can shade out native aquatic plants
 This has an effect on fish and water foul dependent on nutrients and habitat provided by native plant communities
 Can have an effect on water quality and contribute to algal blooms
 No fun to swim or boat in!
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Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary 2009
•Aquatic Plant Management Plan
•Applied for and received a grant.
• chemically treat •draw down lake
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Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary 2010
•Implemented and evaluated 2010 spring chemical treatment
•Built Siphons
•Implemented 2010 fall draw down
•Heavy rain event
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Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary 2011
•Evaluated 2010 drawdown
•Unsuccessful due to significant rain event
•Strategic changes:
•Move up start date •Complete drawdown by Mid‐October •Anticipate 35 days to drawdown
•Use pump/generator system •Reviewed fish habitat (2005 and 2010)
•Chip Long, Fish Biologist, Marinette County
•Implemented second draw down
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Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary 2012
•Monitored drawdown impact
•Limited Success
•Extensive muck & debris slowed water flow
•Unseasonable early Spring/Hot Summer •Determined
•Siphons ‐ drawdown to 4.5 feet (goal 6ft.)
•Lakes filled up quickly
•Could reach drawdown mark if water flows
•Controlled EWM in shallow areas (frost 4”)
• Conclusion
•Dredge to enable draw down
•Modify the dam to allow drawdowns
•Begin work on dredging grant dam
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Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary
2013
•Applied for an Aquatic Invasive Species grant to: 1) Use winter drawdown as a Eurasian Milfoil management tool
2) Minimize dependence on herbicides to control this invasive species
3) Implement long term, effective controls in a cost effective manner
•Majority of a quorum of the District passed the resolution
•Requested Army Corp of Engineers approve dredging to enable draw down
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Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary 2014
Army Corp of Engineers Approved Dredging
AIS Grant Application Denied
•Reviewed unsuccessful dredging grant application
•Encouraged to reapply
•Increased match
WDNR Meeting
•Review chemical treatment history & results
Chemical Treatment •Cost share ‐ grants and Marinette County •27 acres whole lake treatment
Annual Meeting
•Met with Brenda Nordin, WDNR and Chuck Druckrey Marinette County
•Unanimously approved resolution for District to fund 50% of grant 17
Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary
2015
February
•WDNR EWM Conference
•Resubmitted Grant March
•Successful ‐ grant awarded
April
•Signed Grant Agreement
•Begin work on preparing to dredge to enable a drawdown. 18
Beecher and Upper Lake Work Summary
•Lessons Learned
•Stay connected.
•Identify resources and content experts.
•Think outside of the box.
•Develop a team approach
•Plan, do, study, act!
•Never, never, never give up.
Winston Churchill
Acknowledgment
Town of Beecher
Marinette County
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Army Corp of Engineers
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